Taif is a city in the Makkah Province of Saudi Arabia. Taif is located at a height of 6,165ft on the Sarawat Mountains. Every year in the summer season, the Saudi Government moves its official headquarters from Riyadh to Taif due to the pleasant weather of Taif. Taif is an agricultural city famous for its citrus fruits, scented roses (produced in more than 700 farms) and honey. Like all the hilly areas and mountainous cities, Taif is covered in clouds. Taif is a mountainous area and famous for its rose fields. As soon as you enter Taif, fresh air fills your lungs, and the tranquil atmosphere comforts your soul. The serenity of Taif is the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Important Tourist Places to Visit in Taif

Are you looking for the best places to explore in Taif that can satisfy your craving to discover something new? Taif - often called the City of Roses is famous for its breathtaking landscapes and fragrant rose flower farms. Taif is a beautiful city housing beautiful mountains, flower fields, ancient markets, and landmarks. Tourists can find many stunning historical places, parks, gardens and ancient palaces to keep tourists occupied while exploring Taif. Here in this guide, we will discuss the most popular and breathtaking areas.

Shubra Palace Museum

The Shubra Palace is a beautiful and interesting place to visit. The palace was built in 1905. The palace design is a blend of Roman and Islamic architecture. The palace was once a summer residence of King Abdul Aziz and later King Faisal. Now, the beautiful building has been converted into a museum, showcasing ancient artifacts, gemstones, seals, iron locks, old coins and much more. In addition to the beautifully designed arches and long columns, the Shubra Palace also consists of Rawasheen (a type of projecting oriel window to protect the façade of the building), big solid wood doors, windows and high ceilings. The palace has 150 rooms and two entrances, the main entrance and the side entrance. The Shubra Palace Museum also contains artifacts, traditional folk art, a photographic laboratory, a library, and many other things. Taif is famous for its largest rose farms, more than 700 rose farms are making this mountainous region a City of Roses. Al Qahdi Rose Factory is one of the oldest and biggest rose factories, which opened in 1982. This factory works only in the Spring season, march and April every year. In the rose season, the factory uses original Taif pink petals and turns them into pure rose water and oil for sale. During the season, the factory is open to the public, and visitors can visit the factory and witness the turning of petals into rose water, scent, and oil. Visitors can also purchase these products directly from the factory. There is an old Arabic proverb: ‘If the roses comes, we eat and drink near it; if it departs, we do not regret it’.

The Taif Souq

When you to Taif, don’t miss visiting Taif Souq, one of the largest souqs in the Kingdom. There is a saying that ‘If Italians live in their piazzas, in Arabia, locals are found in their souqs.’ Taif Souq is located in the heart of a spectacular renovated historical center. The bustling marketplace of Taif invites visitors to witness the charm and history of the ancient city. The famous souq of Taif offers vibrant colors of textiles, spices, traditional Arabian perfumes, handicrafts, traditional souvenirs and much more. The souq is a great place to buy local, homemade products such as honey, handicrafts and rose water.

From the historical significance of the Souq to the mouthwatering delights, handicrafts, vibrant textiles, traditional souvenirs, etc, every corner of the souq unfolds a different story.

Daka Mountain Park

Visit Daka Mountain Park, a beautiful landscape on Mount Dhaka, the highest mountain in the Ash Shafa area, located 12 km from the city of Taif in western Saudi Arabia. Daka Mountain Park offers a serene and tranquil atmosphere that entices visitors to escape from the bustling city life and enjoy the serene beauty of the park. This beautiful park offers a stunning sunset view and a picturesque Taif view. For those who love outdoor activities, this park offers well-maintained walking trails and hiking treks that pass through lush greenery. The cool breeze and soothing nature sound create a serene atmosphere for nature lovers. The park is a natural habitat for animals and plants. Nature lovers can enjoy walking through plants of different species and observing local wildlife.

Playground for children, barbecue areas for visitors to spend some quality time while barbecuing and a beautiful setting for picnics.

Taif's Local Food

Taif is famous for its beautiful landscapes, pleasant weather and flourishing culinary culture. Taif offers lots of mouthwatering delights to its visitors and locals alike, ranging from traditional meals to international cuisines. If you are visiting Taif, you should try the popular local cuisines such as Saleeg, Hareesah, Thareed, Maamoul, and Albaik chicken.

Besides savoury meals and delicious cuisines, Taif also offers a variety of drinks. Almond coffee and Jamar Tea are famous drinks for cold winter nights. Sobia drink is the traditional drink of Taif; in Ramadan, the streets of Taif are filled with Sobia stalls, creating delicious drinks by mixing raisins with barley and tamarind.

Final Words

Whether you are seeking a breathtaking landscape for your wanderlust or looking for some delicious delights and winter drinks, Taif has it all. Pilgrims securing Umrah packages and Hajj visas can visit Taif, witness the stunning beauty, and taste the rich cuisines. From Makkah, it takes nearly one hour to reach Taif via highway. Pilgrims can also reach Taif from Jeddah, which is nearly 170 km. Taif has more to offer than just mouth-watering cuisines and amazing attractions. In fact, every two weeks in July and August, thrilling camel races are organized that are sure to get your heart racing! And if you're planning to go for Hajj or Umrah, add Taif to your itinerary. Book Hajj and Umrah packages in advance and explore the beautiful city in tranquillity and devotion.